David Segel

"Pinecones" Mid-Century Still-life by David Segel

1970s

Beyond artistic and aesthetic expression, every still life offers the opportunity to activate a deeply intimate experience. David Segel invites us into a profound encounter with this...

This artwork features an oil landscape painting by French painter Emile Gerard. The artist used warm colors, overlapping layers of light, and dark oranges...

Oil on linen. "Pit Thea", Study of a pine cone. From the Plant Series 1968-1989. Signed lower left, dated 1974. Signed and titled and dated on back. 20" X 24" (floating frame 21" X 25"). My imagery is rooted in the world of the spirit which manifests itself through ritual, myth and symbol. The monolithic single-image plant forms which I began painting in 1968 are potent symbols of the ancient Great Goddess in Her aspect as ‘Lady of the Plants’, who . . . has been worshipped under a thousand names since the beginnings of prehistory.” (Buffie Johnson, Artist’s Statement for the exhibition catalogue of The Language of Symbols, Landmark Gallery, New York City, April 1980.) “... in the ancient world ... such images were perceived as sacred. This sense of divinity inherent in the plant has inspired these icons and through them I hope to evoke a similar magical experience. These forms were created both as metaphors for the spiritual mystery of nature . . . [and] as celebrations of the feminine.” (Buffie Johnson, Artist’s Statement for the exhibition catalogue of Buffie Johnson: The Spirit of Plants, Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York City, October 3rd – October 26th, 1997.) BORN: February 20, 1912 New York City DIED: August 11, 2006 at her home and studio , Greene Street, New York City SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 1937 * Jake Zeitlin Gallery, Los Angeles (First Solo Exhibition) 1939 * Galerie Andre J. Rotge, Paris: “Peintures Recentes de Buffie Johnson” (First Solo Exhibition in Paris) 1939 * Wakefield Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson” (First Solo Exhibition in New York) 1941 * James O’Toole Gallery, NYC: “Recent Paintings and Portraits by Buffie Johnson” 1942 * Robert C. Vose Galleries, Boston: “Paintings and Portraits by Buffie Johnson” (First Solo Exhibition in Boston) 1944 * Caresse Crosby's G Place Gallery, Washington, D.C. 1945 * Howard Putzel’s 67 Gallery, NYC: “An Exhibition of Recent Paintings by Buffie Johnson” 1948 * The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota: “Buffie Johnson” * Galleria del Cavallino, Venice: “Buffie Johnson” 1949 * The Hanover Gallery, London: “Buffie Johnson” (First Solo Exhibition in London) * Galerie Colette Allendy, Paris: “Buffie Johnson” * The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota * Galleria del Cavallino, Venice 1950 * Betty Parsons Gallery, NYC: “Recent Works by Buffie Johnson” 1951 * Galerie Bing, Paris * The Paul Mellon Gallery, The Choate School, Wallingford: “Exhibit of Portraits: Buffie Johnson 1936-51” 1956 * Galerie Bing, Paris: “Buffie Johnson: Exposition de peintures” 1960 * Galerie Bing, Paris: “Buffie Johnson: peintures recentes” * Bodley Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson” 1961 * Gallery Thibaut, NYC: Buffie Johnson: “Phases of the Sun” 1963 * World House Gallery, NYC 1964 * Galeria de Antonio Souza, Mexico City: “La exposicion de las obras de Buffie Johnson” * The Granville Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson: Recent Paintings” * World House Gallery, NYC 1966 * Galeria de Antonio Souza, Mexico City 1969 * The New School for Social Research/The New School Associates, NYC: “Buffie Johnson: Creation Myths - Oils” 1973 * Max Hutchinson Gallery, NYC: Buffie Johnson: Paintings 1968-1973” 1975 * Palm Beach Galleries, Palm Beach “Buffie Johnson” 1976 * Andre Zarre Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson: Recent Paintings” 1977 * The Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford: “Two Organic Women: Buffie Johnson / Stella Snead” 1979 * Gallery 700, Milwaukee: “Buffie Johnson: Floral Paintings” 1981 * Ankrum Gallery, Los Angeles: “Buffie Johnson” * Landmark Gallery, NYC: "Retrospective" 1984 * Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland: “Buffie Johnson” 1989 * 56, Bleecker Gallery, Ltd., NYC: “Buffie Johnson Portraits 1936-1947” 1991 * Cardiff House at University of California, Santa Cruz: “The Numbering Series” 1992 * PMW Gallery, Stamford: “Buffie Johnson: A Span of Time” Retrospective 1993 * The Institute for Contemporary Art, P. S. 1 Museum, Long Island City: “Buffie Johnson: Paintings from the 40s and 90s” curated by Director, Alanna Heiss 1995 * Kingsborough Community College Art Gallery of The City of New York, Brooklyn: “Buffie Johnson: Plants” 1996 * Millennium Art Gallery, East Hampton: “Perceptions”: Buffie Johnson – A Retrospective of her work from the 1940s to the 1990s” 1997 * Chuck Levitan Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson: The Spirit of Plants" (Part I) 1998 * Chuck Levitan Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson: The Spirit of Plants" (Part II) 2002 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Buffie Johnson: Transcendentalist" 2007 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Buffie Johnson Memorial Exhibition" Group exhibitions: 1938 * Galerie Le Niveau, Paris: “Paysages: Exposition de Groupe” 1939 * Wakefield Gallery, NYC * The Fine Arts Gallery, Balboa Park, San Diego: The Fine Arts Society of San Diego: “The Eleventh Annual Southern California Art Exhibition” * Galerie de Beaune, Paris: “VIIe Exposition de Gravures et Platres Gravés du Groupe de L’Atelier 17” 1940 * Wakefield Gallery, NYC: “Group of Small Paintings” 1941 * Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh: "International Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture" * Marie Sterner Gallery, NYC: “International Group of Contemporary Painters” * The American British Art Center, NYC: “First ABAC Exhibition: Paintings and Sculpture from England, Canada & America” * The American British Art Center, NYC: “Stage and Circus: An Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings, Designs and Model Stages by American and British Artists” 1942 * Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach: “Fourth Annual Exhibition by Artist Members” * Parke-Bernet Galleries, NYC: “A Loan Exhibition of Paintings for the Benefit of The American Red Cross representing Happier Days in The United Nations arranged by Marie Sterner” 1943 * Peggy Guggenheim's Art of This Century, NYC: “Exhibition by 31 Women” 1945 * Howard Putzel’s 67 Gallery, NYC: “Preview 1945-1946 Season of Two-man and Group Exhibitions at this Gallery” * Howard Putzel’s 67 Gallery, NYC: “40 American Moderns” 1946 * Walker Art Center, Minneapolis: "136 Americans" * The Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA: “Sixth Annual Spring Purchase Exhibition: 30 Paintings by 30 Contemporary American Artists” 1948 * Salon des Realites Nouvelles, Paris 1949 * Salon des Realites Nouvelles, Paris 1950 * The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn: "Fourth National Print Annual Exhibition" * La Galerie Arnaud, Paris: “sculpteurs et peintres abstraits americains de paris” * The Riverside Museum, NYC: “Creative Art Associates” * Guild Hall, Moran Gallery, East Hampton: 10 East Hampton Abstractionists” 1951 * Guild Hall, East Hampton: “Frankly Romantic” 1953 * Guild Hall, East Hampton: "A Selection from 12 East Hampton Collections" * Guild Hall, East Hampton: "17 East Hampton Artists" * The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn: "17th Biennial International Watercolor Exhibition" 1954 * stabile Gallery, NYC * Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC: “The Whitney Annual” * The Baltimore Museum, Baltimore * Hampton Gallery & Workshop, Amagansett: "Group Show: Eight Painters, Two Sculptors" 1955 * stabile Gallery, NYC * Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana, “Exposition Internationale de Gravure” 1956 * Haus der Heimat, Iserlohn: "Junge Amerikanische Kunst" * Group Espace, Paris * Guild Hall, East Hampton: “13 Artists of the Region: Museum Acquisitions and Recent Works” 1957 * Signa Gallery, East Hampton: "Second Exhibition" 1959 * Hirschl & Adler Galleries, NYC: "Works by Gallery Artists" 1960 * Guild Hall, East Hampton: "Monotypes and Prints" * Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC: Friends of the Whitney Museum of American Art: "Business Buys American Art" * Bodley Gallery, NYC * The Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia: “Monotypes & Prints of Related Techniques” Shown concurrently with the publication of Henry Rasmusen’s Printmaking with Monotype 1961 * Bertha Schaefer Gallery, NYC: "Contemporary Collage" 1964 * Long Island University/The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton: "Long Island Artists" at Long Island University’s Galleries * Guild Hall, East Hampton: “Festival of the Arts Exhibition: Artists of the East Hampton Area Each showing one of his own works along with a favorite work of art or object from his collection.” 1965 * The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton: "Twelve Women Painters of the South Fork” 1970 * Le Salon International de la Femme, Nice. (Medailles d’argent) 1971 * Museum of Modern Art, NYC: "Penthouse Exhibition" * Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC: "American Art of Our Century" 1972 * Kunsthaus Hamburg, Hamburg: "Gedok American Woman Artist Show" * Suffolk Museum and Carriage House, Long Island: “Unmanly Art” 1973 * The New York Cultural Center, NYC: "Women Choose Women" * Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC: “1973 Biennial Exhibition: Contemporary American Art" * Women's Interart Center, NYC: "In the Beginning: Women and Religion" * University of Texas at Austin, "The Ciba-Geigy Collection of Contemporary Paintings" * A .I. R. Gallery, NYC * Brooklyn College, Brooklyn: "New York Women Artists" * Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA: "New York Women Artists" 1974 * Kresge Art Center Gallery, Michigan State University at East Lansing: “Works by Women from the CIBA-GEIGY Collection” * Weatherspoon Art Gallery, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro: “Works by Women from the CIBA-GEIGY Collection” * Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills: "Waves: An Artist Selects" * Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids: "Waves: An Artist Selects" 1975 * Women's Interart Center, NYC: "Color, Light & Image" * The Pratt Institute Gallery, Brooklyn: "Women's Exchange Exhibitions: Artists from the Women Artist Historical Archives of the Women’s Interart Center" * Ashawagh Hall, Springs: "Women Artists Here & Now" * The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield: "A Change of View" * The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn: "Works on Paper: Women Artists" * Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC: "Women from the Permanent Collection" 1976 * Buecker & Harpsichords, NYC: “Recent Portraits of Sari Dienes” * Soho Art Tour: A Benefit for Guild Hall of East Hampton * Guild Hall, East Hampton: "Artists and East Hampton: A 100 Year Perspective" * Landmark Gallery, NYC: “10 Artists" * The Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D. C.: "A Bicentennial Edition of Banners" * Chuck Levitan Gallery, NYC: "A Bicentennial Edition of Banners" * National Museum Singapore, Singapore: “Artists Celebrate the Bicentennial” * Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute, San Antonio: "American Artists ‘76: A Celebration" * The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx: "The Year of the Woman: Reprise" 1977 * The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx: "The Magic Circle" * Hurlbutt Gallery, Greenwich: The Friends of the Greenwich Library Present: "Contact: Women and Nature” The Works of 30 contemporary women artists selected by New York critic and author Lucy R. Lippard * The Brooklyn Museum Art School, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn: "Contemporary Women: Consciousness and Content" * New York University, Contemporary Arts Gallery, NYC: Visual Artists Coalition Exhibition: “Women Painters and Poets” 1978 * Women’s Interart Center, NYC: Women Artists: Sketch Books 1979 * Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton: "Five Artists New York/Hamptons" * Connecticut College, Cummings Center, New London: Visual Artists Coalition Exhibition: “Women Painters and Sculptors” * Clayworks Benefit Exhibition, 4 Great Jones Street, NYC 1980 * Landmark Gallery, NYC: "The Language of Symbols" * Fordham University, Lowenstein Library Gallery, NYC: “Evocative Images” * The Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth, “Invitational Print Show” 1981 * Landmark Gallery, NYC: "118 Artists" * The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton: "Alive at the Parrish" * American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, NYC: "Paintings And Sculpture by Candidates for Art Awards" 1982 * Westbeth Gallery #1, NYC: “Sexuality in Art: Two Decades from a Feminist Perspective.” One of sixteen shows of “Views by Women Artists: Sixteen Independently Curated Theme Shows Sponsored by the New York Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art” * The State University of New Jersey Rutgers, Mabel Smith Douglass Library, New Brunswick: Women Artist Series at Douglass College: “Modern Masters: Women of the First Generation” * Frank Merino Gallery, NYC: “Heresies 3rd Annual Art Benefit: Work by 146 Women Artists for Sale at Artists’ Prices” 1983 * Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia: “An Exhibition of Work by Artists in the Historical Archives of the Women’s Interart Center of New York City” 1984 * Suzanne Gross Gallery, Philadelphia: "Major Contemporary Women Artists: In Celebration of Simone de Beauvoir" 1985 * The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton: "Looking At Pictures" 1987 * Schick Art Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs: "Self-Portraits: The Message, The Material" * Hofstra Museum - Emily Lowe Gallery, Hempstead: "Self-Portraits: The Message, The Material" 1988 * Phoenix II Gallery, Washington, D. C.: “Small Works by Forty-Two Artists 1989 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Early Abstractions: Painting and Sculpture of the 40’s and 50’s" * Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville in conjunction with Bennett Galleries, Knoxville: "American Women Artists: The 20th Century" 1990 * Queensborough Community College Art Gallery, Bayside: "American Women Artists: The 20th Century" * Guild Hall/East Hampton Center for Contemporary Art, East Hampton: "East Hampton Avant-Garde: A Salute to the Signa Gallery 1957-60" 1991 * Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples, FL: “Gallery Group Exhibition” * Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples, FL: “Recently Added Artists” * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “The Prevailing Fifties” 1992 * The Institute for Contemporary Art, P. S. 1 Museum, Long Island City: "Slow Art: Painting in New York Now." Curated by the museum’s Director, Alanna Heiss * Stuart Levy Gallery, NYC: “American Vanguard: Jackson Pollack, Lee Krasner and Friends” for the benefit of The Study Center Development Fund of The Pollock- Krasner House and Study Center, East Hampton, New York * Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples, FL: “Flowers in Art” * Melvin Gallery, Florida Southern College, Lakeland: “Women Artists From the Harmon- Meek Gallery” * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “The Americas” 1993 * Richard Anderson Gallery, NYC: “Songs of Retribution.” Curated by Nancy Spero * Snyder Fine Art, NYC: “Out of the ‘50s”: Works Shaped by the Aesthetic of the 1950s * Benton Gallery, Southampton: “Woman!” * The Museum of the Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown: The Art Students League of New York and The Provincetown Art Association and Museum Exhibition of: “The League at the Cape” Part II: Contemporary Invitational Section * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “Women of the Fifties” 1995 * The New York Open Center, NYC: “The Creative Call to the Divine: An interfaith art show and healing experience” * Millennium Gallery, East Hampton: "Living Legends" * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “Artists of the Fifties” (Part 2) 1997 * Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, Springs, East Hampton: "Art of This Century: The Women" 1998 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “Earthly Delights” 1999 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “The Immortals” 2000 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: “Buffie Johnson, William Scharf, Yvonne Thomas, Rufus Zogbaum, Wilfrid Zogbaum: Feb. 12-April 29, 2000” 2001 * Emily Lowe Gallery, Hofstra University, Hempstead: “Abstract Expressionism, Then and Now” 2003 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Re-Examining Abstract Art, Part 2" 2004 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "New York School Artists: Work of 50’s & 60’s" 2005 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Betty Parsons & the Women" 2007 * Anita Shapolsky Gallery, NYC: "Collectors' Choices" * Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago: “Suitcase Paintings...

Vintage small Modernist still life painting features a composition of fruits and flowers in a blue vase. Jewel-like colors of burnt orange background juxtapose the intense blue colo...